Japan, Vietnam Sign 6 Cooperation Agreements

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung in Hanoi on Saturday, signing six agreements to deepen bilateral cooperation on economic security, energy, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and space exploration.

The pacts, which also cover infrastructure, climate action, agriculture, technology, and digitalization, mark an advancement of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in 2023 into a new phase of development, Hung said after the meeting. "Economic security including energy, important mineral resources, artificial intelligence, semiconductors and space" emerged as a priority area, Takaichi told reporters. The leaders reaffirmed the importance of resolving South China Sea disputes through peaceful means based on international law.

Japan remains Vietnam's largest provider of official development assistance, a major investor, and a key trading partner, with two-way trade exceeding $50 billion for the first time last year. Bilateral trade rose 12.3 percent to $13.7 billion in the first quarter, according to Vietnamese government and customs data, even as new Japanese investment pledges fell about 75...